Cloth-folding machine.



Nq. 731,905. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

W. HFHOWARDF CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

. 1 construction and combination of the parts Nor731,905.

i UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLOTH-FOLDING MACHINE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 731,905, dated June 23, 1903.

Application filed October 10, 1902. Serial No. 126,735. (No model.)

To aZZwhom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAM H. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stoughtom-in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cloth Folding Machines and I do herebydeclarethe following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for arranging textile material, such as cloth, in folds and upon bars, so thatit maybe dried or otherwise treated; and it consists in the novel hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the foldingmachine. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

A is the frame of the machine, and B is a driving-roll journaled in the said frame and preferably covered with soft material b'.such

as cloth, paper, or wire-brush fabricso as to enable it to have a better driving contact with the goods.

0 is a roll of goods, such as cloth, mounted on a spindle c, which is journaled in inclined and forked bearings c on the frame A. The cloth is passed from the roll 0 over the roll B, thence around the roll 0, and over the roll B again, so that there may be a good driving contact'between the roll B and the cloth and so that the cloth will not be stretched.

The machine may be driven by hand or by power, as found convenient,and either or both of the spindles mayhave the driving pulley or pulleys 19 secured on them.

D represents spacing-wheels provided with notches dand mounted on short shafts cl, journaled in the frame A, oneat each end'of the roll B.

-E represents track-bars supported horizontally in anyapproved manner and operating to support the goods or cloth when in its folded condition.

' F represents cross-bars forsupporting the loops or folds of the cloth. These cross-bars have their end portions connected together in a series by flexible connections f, such as cords or bands. The cross-bars F are all arranged at the same distance apart as the notches in the spacing-wheels which engage as to form loops or folds of different lengths.

The spacing-wheels are driven at the same speed and at a much slower speed than the driving-roll. This is done so that the web may be looped upon the cross-bars.

When-the machine is driven in one direction, the cloth is transferred from the roll and is arranged in loops or folds on the crossbars. cloth is rewound into the form of a roll. The cross-bars and the folds of cloth are slid along the track-rails in any approved manner, and when the cloth or other material is thus folded on the cross-bars it can be dried or otherwise treated.

What I claim is*- 1. The combination, with a driving-roll, of spacing-wheels, driving mechanism which revolves the spacing-wheels at a slower speed than the driving-roll, a series of cross-bars for supporting the goods in loops, flexible connections normally holding the said cross-bars at the correct distance apart for engaging with the spacing-wheels and permitting them to slide closer together when discharged by the said spacing-wheels, and means for supporting the said cross-bars after they have been discharged by the said spacing wheels, substantially as set forth.

2. Thecombination, with a frame, a driving-roll journaled in the frame, and hearingson the frame for supporting a roll of goods; of spacing-wheels j ournaled in the said frame, driving mechanism which revolves the said spacing-wheels at a slower speed-than the said driving-roll, a track, cross-bars for sup- When the machine is reversed, the

Idle wheels t are arranged in gear porting the goods in loops said cross-bars be- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature ing slidable on the said track, and flexible in presence of two witnesses.

' connections normally holding the said crossbars at a prearranged distance apart and permitting them to slide closer together when discharged onto the said track, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM H. HOWARD. 

